Air Miles vs. Aeroplan
How are Canada's two major travel reward programs different?
by Sharon Aschaiek
They may sound similar, but Air Miles and Aeroplan are two very different ways of collecting points and earning rewards.
Aeroplan
While both programs allow you to accumulate points to put toward purchases, Aeroplan is more specifically geared towards travel-oriented buys. Aeroplan points can be earned and redeemed with all 14 airlines of the Star Alliance network: Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, bmi british midland, Lauda Air, Lufthansa Airlines, Mexicana, SAS, Singapore Airlines, THAI, Tyrolean Airways, United Airlines and VARIG.
You can also earn and redeem Aeroplan points with Air Canada Jazz, Air Georgian Limited, Air Creebec, Air Labrador, Aviation Québec Labrador, Bearskin Airlines, Calm Air, Canadian North, Central Mountain Air, First Air, Pem Air Limited, Provincial Airlines and Tango by Air Canada.
In addition to flight services, Aeroplan lets you accumulate points to redeem on selected hotels stays, car rentals, financial purchases, retail purchases, specialty purchases and telecommunications subscriptions.
Air Miles
Air Miles can be earned by making purchases from more than 125 different participating sponsors. These sponsors include Northwest Airlines, National Car Rental, Holiday Inn, Bank of Montreal Mastercard, Goodyear Tires, A&P/Dominion, and Shell Canada.
Air Miles earning promotions will vary among the 125 different sponsors. For example, promotions could consist of a signing bonus when you switch long distance companies. In most cases, you earn one Air Mile for every $20 you spend at a certain sponsor.
The airlines where you can earn and redeem Air Miles are Air Canada, American Airlines, United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, KLM, West Jet and Canadian North.
Accumulating points
Both plans allow you to accumulate points with a free collector’s card that's used when making purchases from sponsors. The more you use the card, the more reward points you accumulate, and the faster you can put them toward a sponsor purchase.
Deciding which plan suits you depends on your lifestyle ― if you travel frequently, Aeroplan may fit you best. Aeroplan allows you to buy points in bulk if you’re short a certain amount, (i.e. 1,000 miles for $40). Similarly, Air Miles allows you to buy gift certificates, which you could use for yourself.
Both plans also offer special earning promotions. Travel specials at Aeroplan include opportunities to earn several thousand extra points. For example, a current round trip ticket from Vienna to Montreal/Toronto on Austrian Airlines with will earn you 10,000 bonus points.
As previously mentioned, the rewards with Aeroplan are largely travel-based. The Web site features a handy flight check mechanism that lets you look into availability and determine if you have enough points to use.
The Air Miles Web site lists several items and its reward miles price. For example, compact binoculars can be redeemed for 250 miles, while a JVC CD player goes for 800 miles, and a Motorola Two-Way Talk is 900 miles.
You can find out more about these two programs by visiting their Web sites or by calling Air Miles at (888) AIR-MILES (247-6453) or Aeroplan at (800) 361-5373.
MochaSofa, July 2002
